Date of publication:
01/08/2026
Ethiopia
Do domestic laws and policies provide access to effective administrative or judicial remedies for forcibly displaced and stateless persons who face violations of their right to health?
Assessment by population
Analysis
Access to justice is recognized as a right in the FDRE Constitution, pursuant to Article 37(1), everyone has the right to bring a justiciable matter to a court of law or any other competent body with judicial power. This provision of the constitution is applicable to everyone including refugees. In other words, there is no requirement to be an Ethiopian citizen in order to bring a Refugee a legal action or defend against a legal action in federal and regional courts.Further, the Refugees Proclamation, under article 30(1), provides that refugees are entitled to the same treatment as nationals with regard to bringing any justiciable matter to court or any other competent body with judicial power. Also Article 5(1) of the Refugees and Returnees Grievances and Appeals Handling Directive, Directive No. 03/2019, entitles refugees the right to complain to the concerned official or higher official regarding the service provided by the Refugee and Returnee Service (RRS) not being properly provided to him.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
Constitution of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE)
- Year: 1995
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1995/en/18206
Legal provision
Article 37 - Right to Justice
Everyone has the right to bring a justiciable matter to, and obtain a decision or judgment by, a court of law or any other competent body with judicial power.
Directive to Handle Grievances from Refugees and Returnees, Directive No 03/2019, RRS
- Year: 2019
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Nationality & facilitated naturalization
Legal provision
Article 2(12)
Grievance and appeals body means a unit or panel established or assigned within every department of the Agency to implement the grievances and appeals procedure put in place by the Agency and resolve issues faced by refugees.
Article 5(1)
Any client/refugee shall have the right to complain to the concerned official or higher official concerning any issues he has encountered because of a service rendered by the Agency not being properly provided to him.